Home Energy Pros2015-08-02T23:00:53ZBud Pollhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EverettPollhttp://api.ning.com:80/files/e7RKjJ390BaovCdPalv7reRR3qqUDcRF4vD309VlNcqlKBHDcJIgtjRleo45quN0iz-tgvrsvw2f2TQ8xd5h8af6uXbBVNQZ/663589252.jpeg?xgip=500%3A180%3A2810%3A2810%3B%3B&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=0z2uhv55om0rp&feed=yes&xn_auth=noNatural Insulation Polltag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2015-08-02:6069565:Topic:1853442015-08-02T18:14:00.622ZBud Pollhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EverettPoll
<div class="Ct"><br></br><br></br><table align="center" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container">
<tbody><tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tIUJuZ-Q-d0/Vb5Q6xjxEgI/AAAAAAAAgZ8/yMiG5oqKFtE/s1600/HempTechnologiesFiberInsulation.jpg"><img alt="Natural Hemp Insulation Hemp Wool Insulation http://www.hemp-technologies.com/page15/styled-29/page116.html" border="0" height="317" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tIUJuZ-Q-d0/Vb5Q6xjxEgI/AAAAAAAAgZ8/yMiG5oqKFtE/s320/HempTechnologiesFiberInsulation.jpg" title="NaturHemp™ insulation batts" width="320"></img></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Natural Insulation Poll: Would you use it if it costs the same and has same R Value</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><a href="https://plus.google.com/+scottscontracting/posts/Y5rhW8r4Kwe">INSULATION…</a></h2>
</div>
<div class="Ct"><br/><br/><table align="center" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container">
<tbody><tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tIUJuZ-Q-d0/Vb5Q6xjxEgI/AAAAAAAAgZ8/yMiG5oqKFtE/s1600/HempTechnologiesFiberInsulation.jpg"><img alt="Natural Hemp Insulation Hemp Wool Insulation http://www.hemp-technologies.com/page15/styled-29/page116.html" border="0" height="317" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tIUJuZ-Q-d0/Vb5Q6xjxEgI/AAAAAAAAgZ8/yMiG5oqKFtE/s320/HempTechnologiesFiberInsulation.jpg" title="NaturHemp&#x2122; insulation batts" width="320"/></a></td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Natural Insulation Poll: Would you use it if it costs the same and has same R Value</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><a href="https://plus.google.com/+scottscontracting/posts/Y5rhW8r4Kwe">INSULATION POLL</a> </h2>
</div>
<div class="Ct"><br/><span><b>Natural Fiber Insulation</b>: Same R Value and $ Monetary Cost. <br/><br/><b>Poll Question</b>: Would You use it? </span></div>
<div class="Ct"><span> </span></div>
<div class="Ct"><div><b>Yes No Maybe</b></div>
<div><b> </b></div>
<br/>
<div><span><span> </span><a href="https://plus.google.com/+scottscontracting/posts/Y5rhW8r4Kwe">Take the Natural Insulation Poll here</a></span></div>
<span><a class="ot-hashtag aaTEdf" href="https://plus.google.com/s/%23Contractors" rel="nofollow">#Contractors</a> <a class="ot-hashtag aaTEdf" href="https://plus.google.com/s/%23Construction" rel="nofollow">#Construction</a> <a class="ot-hashtag aaTEdf" href="https://plus.google.com/s/%23greenbuilding" rel="nofollow">#greenbuilding</a> <a class="ot-hashtag aaTEdf" href="https://plus.google.com/s/%23energyefficiency" rel="nofollow">#energyefficiency</a> <a class="ot-hashtag aaTEdf" href="https://plus.google.com/s/%23insulation" rel="nofollow">#insulation</a> </span></div>
<p><span><a href="https://plus.google.com/+scottscontracting/posts/Y5rhW8r4Kwe" target="_blank">Natural Insulation Poll</a></span></p> First NC and now GA - Building Performance Associations taking shapetag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2015-07-31:6069565:Topic:1851742015-07-31T13:24:58.858ZBud Pollhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EverettPoll
<p>Hi All - Just a quick "this is what we're up to" for the community.</p>
<p>The NC Building Performance Association is now 18 months old and doing great. We have 138 members in the state (more than 50% of the residential market) and are holding our second conference Sep 1 - 3. You can find out more about us at <a href="http://www.BuildingNC.org">www.BuildingNC.org</a>.</p>
<p>We've also helped to form the GA Building Performance Association as a sister organization and are recruiting…</p>
<p>Hi All - Just a quick "this is what we're up to" for the community.</p>
<p>The NC Building Performance Association is now 18 months old and doing great. We have 138 members in the state (more than 50% of the residential market) and are holding our second conference Sep 1 - 3. You can find out more about us at <a href="http://www.BuildingNC.org">www.BuildingNC.org</a>.</p>
<p>We've also helped to form the GA Building Performance Association as a sister organization and are recruiting members, sponsors and more. Info there is at <a href="http://www.BuildingGA.org">www.BuildingGA.org</a>.</p>
<p>I'm interested in feedback on the opportunity to setup more associations ala our work with Efficiency First (we serve as the NC chapter) across the country that can bring together the new AND existing home AND building performance industries. </p>
<p>Thoughts and feedback are welcomed!</p>
<p>Ryan</p> Modeling a Gas Fireplace in Wrightsofttag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2015-07-31:6069565:Topic:1849942015-07-31T13:24:07.601ZBud Pollhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EverettPoll
<p><span>Any advice on how to factor a gas fireplace into a Wrightsoft Manual J model? </span><br/><br/><span>Seems like it would reduce the required heat from the central gas forced air system in that room. But not quite sure how to include this in the model. </span><br/><br/><span>Any advice is appreciated. This is my second Manual J model.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Bachi</span></p>
<p><span>Ultimate Home Performance</span></p>
<p><span>Any advice on how to factor a gas fireplace into a Wrightsoft Manual J model? </span><br/><br/><span>Seems like it would reduce the required heat from the central gas forced air system in that room. But not quite sure how to include this in the model. </span><br/><br/><span>Any advice is appreciated. This is my second Manual J model.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Bachi</span></p>
<p><span>Ultimate Home Performance</span></p> Role of Quoting Software in New Age Businesstag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2015-07-27:6069565:Topic:1848842015-07-27T04:34:25.595ZBud Pollhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EverettPoll
<p> <a href="http://www.nibaal.com/features" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Quoting Software</a> has unique significance in current business age and it is an unavoidable entity. It is an effective method which offers customers an easier way of obtaining price and saving time. Sales quoting in the cloud via Software as a Service (SaaS) model are considered as a flexible and affordable option. Advantages of reduced cost, increased security, and ease of deployment…</p>
<p> <a href="http://www.nibaal.com/features" target="_blank" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Quoting Software</a> has unique significance in current business age and it is an unavoidable entity. It is an effective method which offers customers an easier way of obtaining price and saving time. Sales quoting in the cloud via Software as a Service (SaaS) model are considered as a flexible and affordable option. Advantages of reduced cost, increased security, and ease of deployment are the attractive features of quoting software. An online quoting system of contemporary age needs ubiquitous as well as multi user access. All staff members and clients of a business organization have access to the quoting system all the time from any corner of the world. Online software quoting system will considerably cut down staff workload and empower clients as well. With the use of quoting software, businesses will save money and customers will find what they are looking for very easily. <br/> Significant infrastructure investments of SaaS providers made quoting software a hot commodity in the market. Customers of SaaS quoting software will be able to reap the benefits of them by paying only a small fee. Per seat costs of a typical SaaS model quoting software and it is observed that business owners opted for quoting software are very much satisfied. Manager of a well known provider of quoting software says, “We used to spend about 10 hours per week calculating quotes in Excel, converting them into PDF, and emailing to customers. Online quoting software has cut that time almost to zero”. Integrating cloud based quoting system with a business is very easy irrespective of its size.</p> Alternative building methods comparisontag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2015-07-26:6069565:Topic:1851242015-07-26T03:00:59.666ZBud Pollhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EverettPoll
<p>Evening,</p>
<p></p>
<p>First post- pardon any mis-steps.</p>
<p>I need some advice on how polyiso foam placed outside of a stick built house performs compared to a molded panel (raycore.com). Thoughts on the below, assuming all else equal, in Chicago, IL zone 5, new construction:</p>
<p>Option A: 7.25" Raycore panels with staggered studs. Advertised R-52 @50F or approximately R-48 @75F.</p>
<p>Option B: 2x6 stick built blown in cellulose with 1.75" polyiso foam exterior. 5.5" cellulose…</p>
<p>Evening,</p>
<p></p>
<p>First post- pardon any mis-steps.</p>
<p>I need some advice on how polyiso foam placed outside of a stick built house performs compared to a molded panel (raycore.com). Thoughts on the below, assuming all else equal, in Chicago, IL zone 5, new construction:</p>
<p>Option A: 7.25" Raycore panels with staggered studs. Advertised R-52 @50F or approximately R-48 @75F.</p>
<p>Option B: 2x6 stick built blown in cellulose with 1.75" polyiso foam exterior. 5.5" cellulose Rated R-20.35 + 1.75" polyiso foil faced rated R-12.6 = total R-32.95 (note- I can't find a temp for these values, assume standard ASTM @75F).</p>
<p>Can I assume the Raycore panels will outperform given these values? Thanks for your thoughts.</p>
<p>~KR</p> PHIUS+2015 Climate-Specific Passive Building Standardtag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2015-07-22:6069565:Topic:1847572015-07-22T20:35:06.806ZBud Pollhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EverettPoll
<p><em>From <strong>Home Energy</strong>'s July/August issue, written by Mike Knezovich, Director of Communications for PHIUS:</em></p>
<p>In March, Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) implemented a new climate-sensitive passive building performance standard. PHIUS+ 2015 gives designers and builders a simplified, cost-effective path to resilient, comfortable, net zero energy buildings.</p>
<p>The new metric generated healthy discussion in the existing PH community and has brought welcome…</p>
<p><em>From <strong>Home Energy</strong>'s July/August issue, written by Mike Knezovich, Director of Communications for PHIUS:</em></p>
<p>In March, Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) implemented a new climate-sensitive passive building performance standard. PHIUS+ 2015 gives designers and builders a simplified, cost-effective path to resilient, comfortable, net zero energy buildings.</p>
<p>The new metric generated healthy discussion in the existing PH community and has brought welcome excitement and fresh interest from newcomers. But there has also been misunderstanding and confusion.</p>
<p>It’s important to understand what’s changed, and what hasn’t.</p>
<p>PHIUS+ 2015 is a natural evolution for PH. It is not unprecedented. Switzerland, Sweden, and Belgium are among the nations that have adapted PH to their conditions.</p>
<p>The fundamental PH goals and principles are universal and unchanged:</p>
<ul>
<li class="hebullet">PH drastically reduces energy consumption and carbon emission by reducing heating and cooling loads.</li>
<li class="hebullet">PH employs a systems-based, whole-building design approach.</li>
<li class="hebullet">PH is a performance standard (not a prescriptive checklist) with metrics that can be modeled and verified.</li>
</ul>
<div class="rightImage"><p><a title="NEW-Climate-Specific-Standard by Home Energy Magazine, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/55393876@N07/19205212952"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/543/19205212952_bae3de9122_m.jpg" alt="NEW-Climate-Specific-Standard" width="240" height="100"/></a><br/><span class="caption">The PHIUS website provides a clickable map for users to find the performance metric for their specific climate. (PHIUS)</span></p>
</div>
<p>The design principles also remain unchanged:</p>
<ul>
<li class="hebullet">A PH is superinsulated.</li>
<li class="hebullet">The building envelope is extremely airtight.</li>
<li class="hebullet">Windows and doors are all high-performance.</li>
<li class="hebullet">There is some form of balanced heat- and moisture-recovery ventilation and the smallest possible space-conditioning system.</li>
<li class="hebullet">Solar gain is maximized for heating and minimized for cooling.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Then &amp; now</h4>
<p>In the 1980s, two European scientists—Bo Adamson and Wolfgang Feist—refined the application of PH principles. (Feist went on to found the Passivhaus Institut in Germany.)</p>
<p>Feist’s work yielded a performance metric that marked the point where, in Europe, minimizing mechanical systems offset increased costs for the building envelope.</p>
<p>That metric was thought to be universal. The performance target (4.75 Kwh/ft<sup>2</sup> annual heating load) would apply in Germany, San Francisco, Boston… It was a powerfully seductive idea: One world, one metric.</p>
<p>Fast-forward to today. PHIUS has certified and/or consulted on residential and commercial PH projects across North America and concluded: One size does not fit all.</p>
<p>In some cases, the European metric has led designers to make decisions that cause overheating. In others, they had to install prohibitively expensive levels of insulation. And cooling climates present a whole different set of challenges.</p>
<p>Market conditions can vary as widely as climate conditions. While the principles have proven to be universal, the performance metric has not. It served to get designers and manufacturers to push the envelope. But its limitations were confining PH to a niche.</p>
<p>That’s why PHIUS, in partnership with DOE and the Building Science Corporation, set out to optimize the target metrics for North America.</p>
<p>Three years of research modeled buildings across the continent, employing BEopt (see “Using BEopt to Optimize Home Energy Performance” on p. 24) and WUFI Passive, a PH modeling tool.</p>
<p>The work yielded a formula: Climate and other variables are input to generate efficiency targets that are aggressive, climate-specific, and cost-effective.</p>
<div class="moreinfobox"><p class="moreinfohead"><strong>learn more</strong></p>
<p class="moreinfo">Download the full report, Wright, G., and K. Klingenberg. <a href="http://www.buildingscience.com/doctypes/bareports" target="_blank">Climate-specific Passive Building Standards</a>, BA-1405, Building America, March 2015.</p>
<p class="moreinfo">Learn more about <a href="http://www.phius.org/phius-2015-new-passive-building-standard-summary" target="_blank">PHIUS+ 2015</a>.</p>
</div>
<h4>Still Passive House</h4>
<p>It’s important to note that the PHIUS+ 2015 metric is an optimization of the European metric, not a relaxation. In fact, in some climate zones, PHIUS+ 2015 sets the bar higher, because until now, cost-effective energy savings were being left on the table.</p>
<p>To account for changing market conditions, available materials, and climate change, PHIUS will update the standard on a rolling cycle.</p>
<p>But passive house is passive house—the concept and principles remain the same.</p> The Real Women of Home Performancetag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2015-07-22:6069565:Topic:1847472015-07-22T17:12:07.158ZBud Pollhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EverettPoll
<p>Amy Beley started the Women in Home Performance initiative because she saw a need. Our industry is still small, and trying to find the tipping point. We need to be working better together, and supporting men and women as we move to make change. The initiative focuses on 3 key areas:</p>
<div><p><strong>Market Transformation/Business Development:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>All aspects of business development, from the day to day decisions made at the contractor level, all the way up to the…</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Amy Beley started the Women in Home Performance initiative because she saw a need. Our industry is still small, and trying to find the tipping point. We need to be working better together, and supporting men and women as we move to make change. The initiative focuses on 3 key areas:</p>
<div><p><strong>Market Transformation/Business Development:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>All aspects of business development, from the day to day decisions made at the contractor level, all the way up to the national policy discussions underway to move this industry forward.</li>
<li>Professionalizing this industry - we have a great foundation of men and women who have gotten us here today; how to do we take it to the next step and increase the overall credibility of the industry?</li>
<li>Thinking more strategically about how we engage women - after all, women make the majority of key financial decisions in the home: Women call the shots: Women make sole financial decisions 43% of the time at home, compared to 26% of men who do the same. (Pew Study from 2008)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Education:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Educating men and women on capitalizing on the strengths women bring to the industry - from personal interactions to professional decisions.</li>
<li>Women business owners employ 35% more people than all Fortune 500 companies combined.</li>
<li>Women earn less than men in 99% of all occupations. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div><strong>Networking and Support:</strong></div>
<ul>
<li>Developing an organized opportunity for women to build relationships and to discuss specific concerns and issues that women face in the workforce.</li>
</ul>
<p><span><em>Home Energy</em> is working with Beley to further this initiative via Q&amp;A blogs with women in the industry, which you can find on <a href="http://www.homeenergy.org/show/blog/nav/blog/id/726" target="_blank">www.homeenergy.org</a>. </span></p>
<p>We've also created a group for Women in Home Performance-related discussions, which you can join <a href="http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/group/women-in-home-performance" target="_self">here</a>. </p> Softwaretag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2015-07-22:6069565:Topic:1850022015-07-22T01:42:20.973ZBud Pollhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EverettPoll
Hello everyone.<br />
I am new in the business , can you folks please tell me what software I can get to help with REM RATE calculations and what I can get to input the data of the inspections? Unfortunately I can't get much help from my provider. Thank you
Hello everyone.<br />
I am new in the business , can you folks please tell me what software I can get to help with REM RATE calculations and what I can get to input the data of the inspections? Unfortunately I can't get much help from my provider. Thank you Blower Door Testing for Code Compliancetag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2015-07-09:6069565:Topic:1845062015-07-09T23:04:47.028ZBud Pollhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EverettPoll
<p>I am interested to know how those who include blower door testing of new homes as a part of their business are able to maintain that service as a part of their business.</p>
<p>I am probably very very naive but as a tester I pride myself in accurate test results. In our State the builder must test a new home to an 5 ACH @ 50 pa. The problem is that many I test for are not reaching that level of envelope tightness. I do not as a rule provide them with a passing test doc. for submittal to…</p>
<p>I am interested to know how those who include blower door testing of new homes as a part of their business are able to maintain that service as a part of their business.</p>
<p>I am probably very very naive but as a tester I pride myself in accurate test results. In our State the builder must test a new home to an 5 ACH @ 50 pa. The problem is that many I test for are not reaching that level of envelope tightness. I do not as a rule provide them with a passing test doc. for submittal to their building inspector unless they meet that required test level.</p>
<p>I do not hear from them again, and shortly there after folks have moved into the home. Is anyone else out there facing the conundrum of maintaining personal integrity and honesty while retaining a request for further testing by the builders?</p>
<p>My problem falls on deaf ears at our State Energy Code office. It's as if the expectation from them is to simply fudge the numbers. </p>
<p></p> AERC testing and Solar Grates updatetag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2015-07-06:6069565:Topic:1842672015-07-06T21:53:20.302ZBud Pollhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EverettPoll
<p>AERC of WCMA has been created to test the effectiveness of window attachments and to design an Energy Star type rating system to cover these devices. The work will occur over the next 4 years or so and I'm told Solar Screens will be included in the testing. The selection of testing candidates depends on factors such as technical merit and market presence. </p>
<p>A product similar in savings to Solar Screens is Solar Grates. Each has it's advantages and both are mounted external to the…</p>
<p>AERC of WCMA has been created to test the effectiveness of window attachments and to design an Energy Star type rating system to cover these devices. The work will occur over the next 4 years or so and I'm told Solar Screens will be included in the testing. The selection of testing candidates depends on factors such as technical merit and market presence. </p>
<p>A product similar in savings to Solar Screens is Solar Grates. Each has it's advantages and both are mounted external to the window. Screens are a woven product mounted on a custom frame. The weave is typically 80+% closed and blocks all light frequencies, thus darkening the room some. Screens are sometimes recommended for permanent installation to avoid handling labor and reduce the risk of wrinkling. Grates are 80% open and operate via SELECTIVE REFLECTIVITY wherein impinging direct sunlight reflects off the grate surface. The visible light fraction largely reflects and enters the room through the window whereas the infrared portion is largely blocked, leaving the room cool and bright. The view through screens is better at an angle but the night view can be problematic. Grates have an unimpeded view head-on but the view becomes blocked as the viewing angle increases. Grates are recommended for seasonal installation to optimize energy performance. Maintenance over 10 years has been nil and the Grates have proven to be quite robust.</p>
<p>Images of Solar Grates can be viewed at the "Solar Grates" website. (I installed the LINK address but I got an error message stating files need to be under 5mb.) It's http// -followed by- hjcochran5.wix.com/solargrates101 .</p>
<p></p>
<p>An insufficient market presence may prevent Solar Grates from being on AERC's testing schedule. There are many other candidates for the testing schedule set at LBNL.</p>